Banding machine



F. R; CLARK BANDING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1941/ 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR "kANcfsHowMjza' TTORN YS Dec. 8, 1942. F. RQ CLARK 2,304,399

BANDING MACHINE Filed April l0, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR@AA/761570.55 CMM ATTO l-:Ys

Dec. 8, E942. n HRA (SPARK 2,304,399

BANDING MACHINE Filed April 1o, 194; 5 sheets-sheet 4 fragmg Dec. 8,1942. Y F. R. CLARK 2,304,399

BANDING- MACHINE Filed April l0, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTORfiA/VQTJUHQLARK BY /x f y 9 MZ Z! ATTO L J EY 5 Patented Dee. s, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE nmlziivalicma Francis Ross Clark,Sprlngileld, Mass., assignor to Package Machinery Company,

Sprinxeld.

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 10, 1941, SerialNo. 387,903

(Cl. 21H5) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying to articles a bandextending completely around the article and overlapped and adhesivelysecured at its ends. One object of the invention is to provide sucha'mechanism in which the output is4 materially increased by reason of animproved coordination between'the several devices which supply andassociate the band and article and those which fold the band upon thearticle into overlapping relation. A further object is to improve theseveral feeding, assembling, and folding devices. A further object is toimprove the ejecting mechanism which moves the bandedarticle from themachine. Additional objects will appear from ,the following descriptionand claims.

Referring to the drawings,

'Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a machine embodying' theinvention; i

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the mechanism forfeeding a band and an article into association and into the pocketedbanding wheel; f

Fig. 3 -is a detail plan of the ejector for removing the banded articlefrom the wheel;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing the operating mechanism for anelevator, which has been omitted from Fig. 2 for clarity;

Fig. 5 is an elevation. showing the driving mechanism for the ejectorshown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details corresponding 4to a portion of Fig. 2and showing successive stages in the association of a band and anarticle and their delivery into the banding wheel;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7 but at right angles thereto;and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are similar details showing successive stages inthe folding and overlappingof the ends of the band.

The banding machine is built around a pocketed banding wheel I, mountedupon a shaft 2 in a suitable frame 3 and driven intermittently by anydesired mechanism. Since the particular form of intermittent drive formsno part of the present invention it has not been illustrated herein; butit is preferably` constructed in accordance with the smith Patent2,210,734, August 6, 1940. The wheel has a body portion 4 (Fig. 8) andan overhanging portion 5 `bolted to it at 6, rotatable together on theshaft 2. The body 4 is preferably provided with a peripheral gear 8which may be coupled in any suitable way to the intermittent drive.

At periodic intervals plates I0 are secured to the overhanging part ofthe wheel, forming the bottom of spaced, radially opening pockets eachhaving 4a. fixed side plate II (Fig. 10) and a movable side plate I2.'I'he movable side plates are secured as by screws I3 (Fig. 8) to bellcranks I4 pivoted to the wheel at I5 (Fig. 10) and bearing at their endsa cam roll I6. Each roll is held by aspring I1 against a stationary diskcam I8 having its contour so formed as to close the pocket after anarticle has been received at a loading station, and to open it againwhen the wheel has turned to bring it to the Vdischarging station. l

Articles a, such as wrapped cakes of soap, are fed in a` directionparallel to the axis of the wheel along a slotted table 2li (Fig. 7) bytransporter fingers 2| preferably forming part of the wrapping machinedischarge conveyorv and having the usual motion in a, closed path alongand back below the table. The last finger of the series leaves thearticle upon an elevator 22 (Figs. 6 and 7) driven as will appear bestfrom Fig. 4. The elevator is pivoted at 23 to a slide 24 verticallymovable'on a. rod 25 carried in brackets 26 in the frame, and has a fork21 sliding upon a. guide 28 extending between the same brackets. Thes1ide124 is connected by a link 29 with a. bell crank 30 rockable on ashaft 3l and pivoted to the stem 32 of an eccentric strap 33 surroundingan eccentric onnthe main cam shaft 34. Also on this shaft'is a face cam35 operating a roll 36 on a forked member 31 pivoted at 38 to a rocker39 on shaft 3l. Thev upper end of the rocker is coupled bya. link 40with a slide 4I runmng in guideways 42 suitably supported on the frame.The slide 4I bears a guideway 43 extending vertically and receiving aroll carried by the elevator below the pivot 23. The eccentric and camare so coordinated that the elevator moves in a path 45 (Fig. 6) inorder to raise the article a into the wheel and to avoid the nextadvancing article ai as it descends.

As the article a is -raised by the elevator it picks up a band b whichmay be fed by any suitable mechanism into position with its longestdimension perpendicular'to the wheels axis, as is best shown in Fig. 2.The bands are stored in a magazine 50 having a, restricted openingthrough which the bands are drawn by one or more vertically reciprocablesuction pickers 5I and deposited in front of pushers 52 carried by anintermittently advancing chain conveyor 53. This conveyor passes overguide sprockets 54, 55, 56, 5l, and 58, one of which is driven in anysuitable way in timed relation to the wrapping wheel. In their passagealong the straight run between sprockets 54 and 55 thebands pass agluingl da@ vice 59 of usual form, by which the bands receive one ormore stripes of adhesive to cause their overlapping ends to be securedtogether and if desired secured as well to the underlying wrapper whenthe band isfolded aroundthe article.

When the band and article come into registration above the elevator theyare clamped together by a bifurcated pad 60 preferably of rubber,.on theend of an arm 6| (Fig. 7) pivoted at 62 to a bracket 63 extendinglaterally from the lower end of a rod 64 slidable vertically in bearings65 (Fig. 2) formed in a'bracket 66. To prevent the rod from turning ithas a forked projection 61 engaging a vertical guide `rail 68 alsocarried by the bracket. A link 10 connects the upper end of the rod withan arm 1| fast on a cross shaft 12, and a second arm 13 on this shaft isjoined by a link 14 with a forked member 15 bearing a roll 16 engaging acam 11 on the shaft 34. This gives a vertical motion to the pad in timedrelation to the motion of the elevator.

The rod 64 is also given a bodily movement toward land away from thewheel. For this purpose the bracket 66 slides on rods 80 mounted in abracket 8| arising from the frame. The

sliding bracket 66 is joined by a link 82 with an arm 83 fixed on ashaft 84. A second arm 85 on this shaft is coupled by a link 86 with aforked member 81 embracing the shaft 34 and having a roll 89 running inthe groove 90 of a vface cam. The combined action of the vertical andhorizontal displacements is shown at 9| in Fig. 7. It will beseen thatthe pad 60 moves vertically upwardly through a wheel pocket, the platebeing left short to permit the pad to pass it, and then withdraws in adirection axially of the .wheel to permit the latter to rotate withoutinterference. In order that the pad 60 may make yielding contact withthe article its supporting arm 6| is preferably connected to the member63 through a compression spring 92 as shown in Fig. 7. In contrast withthis motion the elevator 22 goes through a path 93 having its greaterhorizontal displacement near the bottom of its stroke.

The article and band are fed in directions parallel to the axis of theturret, and meet in superposed position directly under a pocket. As thearticle is elevated the band is draped downwardly past the article ends(Figs. and 11), the folding being done by stationary plates 95. Afterthe article has been positioned within the pocket the rear side d of theband is folded under the article by a folder which is constructed ingeneral in accordance with the application for vpatent filed by StephenM. Bodolay,A November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,164. In this type offolder a flexible member is caused to travel at a higher rate of speedthan that of the article itself in an endless path extending in partpast the article. The member is preferably formed of a plurality ofintertting segments 96 projecting laterally from endless, continuouslymoving chains 91 passing aroundsprockets 98, 99, |00, IOI (Fig. 1). Eachgroup of segments is carried through an endless path and act as a singlefolder adapted to pass adacent a package to fold a flap against it, andthen to move in a divergent direction away from the package. In thepresent case there are four groups of segments spaced apart to formseparate folders, the space between the folders permitting the elevatorand article to `rise to the wheel. It will be understood that eachindividual Agroup of segments always; acts as an individual folder, andif there are four segment groups each group will contact and fold a apon every-fourth package. The elevator and pad 60 are mounted to retractaway from the face of the wheel, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 8,while the chains 91 from which the segments 96 project are carried onguides |02 in the frame at a point in line with the periphery of thewheel. In this way interference between the elevator and pad, on the onehand, and

the rear folder on the other hand is avoided. The front fold is made bya stationary folder |03 shaped toA the-wheel.

The operation of these folders is shown in Figs. 10 to 14. It will thereappear that the rear fold is started while the wheel is stillstationary, and that it continues after the wheel begins its rotation.In the present case the band is of comparatively stiff material whichwill fold and remain folded without pressure along its full length, sothat it is unnecessary for the rear folder chains to follow a curvedpath conforming to the wheel. A further function of the rear folder isto block the front flap e, as shown in Fig. 13, so that there will be nochance of this flap getting in unmeans of the small size of sprocket 55and the elevated position of sprocket 56 as compared derneath the flap dinstead of on top of it. Since this brings the folder intov contact withthe glued stripe c near the edge of the'ap e, the leading segment hassharpened ribs |04 to prevent smearing. Similar ribs |09 are formed onthe elevator 22 for a similar purpose (Fig 12). As the flap e is foldedover into position by the stationary folder |03 the segments 96 willpass under it as shown in Fig. 14.

So that the rear folders will not be broken if a misplaced article getsin their Way a special arrangement is preferably made to stop themachine in such an event. For this purpose the sprocket 99 is mounted onan arm |05 pivoted about the axis of the sprocket 98 as shown in Fig. 1and is held in normal position against a stop |06 by a spring |01.Actuated by a motion of the arm against the spring, as will occur whenthe segments are blocked at the entrance to the wheel (drive of thechains 91 being through sprocket I 0|), is a control, preferablyelectrical, which will stop the machine until the troublesomeinterference is eliminated. One manner of accomplishing this is to mounta mercury switch tube |08 on the arm as shown in Fig. 1, although othermethods could be used.

Having now considered the several mechanisms which operate at the wheelloading stations, a few details of their'mutual relationship and timingwill be described. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the upper and lowerruns of chain 53 are brought closer together adjacent the wheel by with51. This arrangement permits the chain to pass above and below the glueapplying device 59, and still allows it to extend between the parallelupper and lower runs of the tucker chains 91. There are thus two chainsat right angles to the other, one having both runs passing between theruns of the other. The chains 53 and their lugs 52 straddle the article,elevator, and pad 60, as is best shown in Fig. 10; so that the elevatormoves up between those lugs and chains to carry the article in to thewheel. In so doing the elevator has to pass up between successive groupsof segments 96. When it reaches its uppermost position a crook I0 in itsstem clears the now advancing segment group, and as the elevator, aswell as the pad 60, moves away from the wheel face in its downward pathno interference reaaeasaa l suits. The article is grasped by the closingpocket as the elevator recedes (Flg. 11) so that the rear segmentalfolder moves ahead under the suspended article as soon as the elevatoris out of the way.

As the article is carried around by the wheel the overlapping ends ofthe tape are secured to each other by being pressed down by brushes H2and by sponge rubber rolls or blocks H3. sired the overlapped ends ofthe band may be further secured by a sticker or other means not formingpart of the present invention. The finished article may now bedischarged from the machine, which may be done at a rest station of themachine adiacent a discharge platform H4. The ejecting mechanism isshown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. It comprises an ejector H5 mounted on linksH6 and H1 pivoted on a carriage ||8 to form a parallel motion linkage.The `carriage H8 slides on rods H9 held in the bracket 8|. A link |20extends from the carriage to a bell crank |2|` pivoted to the frame at|22 (Fig. 1) and having a link |23 extending to a second bell crank |24(Fig. 5)` pivoted on the shaft 3|. This latter bell crank is coupled tothe stem |26 of an eccentric strap embracing an eccentric on shaft 34.

Underneath carriage H8 is a second carriage |30 movable at right anglesto it on rods |3|` mounted on the bracket 8|. This second carriage |38has a slideway |33 engaging a roll |34 depending from the linkv I6, sothat as the carriage |30 moves transversely the ejector H5 will be swungto the left or right in Fig. 3 in a manner independent of thelongitudinal movement given to it by carriage I8. To give this lateralmovement to carriage |30 it is coupled by a link |35 (Fig. 5) with abell crank |36 pivoted on the shaft 84 and connected by a link |38 witha forked member |39 carrying a roll |40 engagin a cam on shaft 34. 'I'heejector I5 is moved by the mechanism described in a path |4| as shown inFig.u3. It has its first movement` parallel to .the axis of the wheel,moving in behind an article in the pocket. For this purpose the end ofthe ejector is forked (not shown) to straddle the short piece ||Jforming the bottom of the pocket. It then moves radially. of the pocket,carrying the article onto the delivery plate H4, and finally returns toits initial position through a curved path in which it swings laterallyof the wheel to clear it during the advance of the next pocket. In orderthat the articles need not move across a gap onto the delivery plate,and at the same time to prevent the advancing pocket from rubbingagainst the article previously ejected, the delivery plate is preferablymounted for reciprocation 'toward and away from the Wheel as shown bythe arrow |42 in Fig. 3 and as fully described in the Smith and PaynterPatent 1,674,026 and in the Smith and Fuller Patent 1,653,880.

What I claim is:

1. A banding device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, a receiving pocket, a. pusher constrained formovement in an endless path to shift registered artiv cles and bandssuccessively into said pocket and to clear the next succeeding articleon its return stroke, and means for folding the band in overlappingrelation upon the article.

2. A banding device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless If del paths for advancing an article and a band re-`spectively into registry one with another, an intermittently rotatingpocketed wheel, a pusher constrained for movement in an endless path toshift registered articles and bands successively into pockets of saidwheel and to clear the next succeeding article on its return stroke, afolder constrained for movement in an endless path adjacent the wheelfor folding one end of the band against the article, and a stationaryfolder against which the second end of the band is carried by therotation of the wheel to fold said second end in overlapping relation tothe first end.

3. A banding `device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, an intermittently rotating pocketed wheel, apusher constrained for movement in an endless path to shift registeredarticles and bands successively into pockets of said wheel and to clearthe next succeeding article on its return stroke, a clamp holding theband upon the article during such movement, means for moving the clampin a direction first into the pocket andthen back to its initialIposition through a path having sucient lateral displacement to clear thewheel during the next advancing movement thereof, and means for foldingthe band in overlapping relation upon the article.

4. A banding device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, an intermittently rotating pocketed Wheel, apusher constrained for movement in an endless path to shift registeredarticles and bands successively into pockets of said wheel and to clearthe next succeeding article on its return stroke, a clamp holding theband upon the article during such movement, means for moving the clampina direction rst into the pocket and then back to its initial positionthrough a path having suilicient lateral displacement to clear the Wheelduring the next advancing movement thereof, a folder constrained formovement in an endless path adjacent the wheel for folding one end ofthe band against the article, and a stationary folder against which thesecond end of the band is 4carried by the rotation of the wheel to foldsaid second end in overlapping relation to the first end.

5. A banding device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, an intermittently rotating pocketed wheel, apusher constrained for movement in an endless path to shift registeredarticles and bands successively into pockets of said Wheel and to clearthe next succeeding article on its return stroke, a clamp holding theband upon the article during such movement, means for moving the clampin a direction first into the pocket and then back to its initialposition through a path having sufficient lateral displacement to clearthe Wheel during the next advancing movement thereof, an endless 4carrier provided with one or more groups of latthe article, and astationary folder against which the second end ofthe band is carried bythe rotationof the wheel to fold said second end in overlapping relationto the first end.

6. A banding device comprising conveying meansy constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, anv intermittently rotating pocketedwheelapusherconstrained for movement in yanendlessrpath to shiftregistered articles and bands successively into pockets of said wheeland to clea'fr the next succeeding article on lts'return stroke, afolder constrained for" movement in auf-endlessy path adjacent the wheelfor folding on'end'of the bad against the article, and a stationaryfolder against which the second end of the band is carried by therotation of the Wheel to fold said second end in overlapping relation tothe first end and an ejector movable laterally to a position behind anarticle in the wheel, then radially to eject the article, andthen'laterally out of the Way of the Wheel during the continued rotationof the latter.

7. A banding device comprising conveying means constrained for movementin endless paths for advancing an article and a band respectively intoregistry one with another, an intermittently rotating pocketed wheel, apusher constrained for movement in an endless path to shift registeredarticles and bands successively into pockets of said vwheel and to clearthe next succeeding article on its return stroke, a clamp holding theband upon the article during such movement,

means for moving the clamp in a direction first into the pocket and thenback to its initial position through a path having sucient lateraldisplacement to clear the Wheel during the next advancing movementthereof, a folder constrained for movement in an endless path adjacentthe wheel for folding one end of theband against the article, astationary folder against which the second end of the band is carried bythe rotation of the Wheel to fold said second end in overlap pingrelation to the rst end, and an ejector movablelaterally behind anarticle inthe wheel, radially to eject the article, and laterally out ofthe way of the wheel during the continued rotation of the latter.

8. A banding device comprising an intermittently rotating pocketed wheelhaving pockets projecting parallel to its axis beyond one end thereof toform an annular assembly accessible both from inside and outside,article and band feeding means grasping an article and a band andmovable in part radially of the Wheel and in.

i and movable in part radially of the wheel and part parallel to theaxis thereof beyond said assemblage of pockets.

9. A banding device comprising an intermittently rotating pocketed wheelhaving pockets projecting parallel to .its axis beyond one end thereofto forman annular assembly accessible both from inside and outside,article and band feeding means grasping an article and a band inpartparallel to the axis thereof beyondv said assemblage of pockets, andan ejector movable in part radially outwardly and in part y'parallel tothe axis of the wheel to a point ,beyond said assemblage of pockets topermit continued rotation thereof.

10. A banding device ,comprising an article .feeding carrier, an endlessband-feeding conveyor feeding a band in a direction opposite to `thecarrier to carry a band into registration with the article, a pocketdisplaced laterally from the direction of travel of the article andband, means for carrying the registered article and band into thepocket, a folding conveyor at right angles to the band feeding conveyorand encircling it, and one or more iiexible folders extending from theconveyor and movable by said conveyor past the opening of said pocket. l

ll. A banding device comprising an article feeding carrier, an endlessband-feeding conveyor feeding a band in a direction opposite to thecarrier to carry a band into registration with the article, a pocketdisplaced laterally from the direction of travel of the article andband, means for` carrying the registered article and band into thepocket, a folding conveyor at right angles to the band feeding conveyorand encircling it, and

one or more flexible folders extending from the conveyor and movable bysaid conveyor past the opening of said pocket, said carrying means beingmovable towards the pocket in the intervals between passages of thefolder groups and being movable back out of the plane of passage of saidgroups.

12. A banding device comprising a pocketed wheel, mechanism forpositioning articles and bands in the pockets of the Wheel, an ejector,and mechanism for moving the ejector in an endless path rst parallel tothe axis of the wheel into a position behind an article in a pocket,then radially through the wheel to eject the article, and then laterallyout of the Way of the Wheel and radially inward to its starting pointduring the continued rotation of the latter.

13. A banding device comprising an intermittently rotating pocketedwheel having a space radially inside of the pockets and an openingradially through each pocket, means for positioning articles and bandssuccessively within the pockets and for folding the band about thearticle, an ejector, and mechanism for moving the ejector in an endlesspath rst parallel to the axis of the Wheel into said space behind apocket, then radially through the opening through the pocket to ejectthe article therefrom, and then laterally out of the Way of the Wheeland radially inward to its starting point during the continued rotationof the latter.

FRANCIS ROSS CLARK.

